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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Initiatives

In order to incentivize innovations, it is indispensable to effectively utilize our existing human diversity-including women and youth. Based on this viewpoint, there has been a vitalizing global movement to promote Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) within the field of IP. Understanding the importance of this movement, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) promotes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) in order to realize a society in which individuals with different backgrounds and values are able to exercise their creativity.

Since 2023, the cross-organizational JPO Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team has been working to further accelerate the D&I movement through interviews with IP specialists. The team helped the JPO boost recognition of the need to “respectfully bring together diverse personalities to create synergies that will enhance individual abilities,” which was explicitly incorporated as a new “value” in the JPO Mission, Vision and Values (MVV) in June 2024. In addition, the JPO has continued to engage in international collaborations with other IP offices and organizations around the world in order to help establish a global network in the field of DE&I. The JPO also cooperates with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) via its voluntary fund, known as the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global).

Some of the JPO’s DE&I initiatives are introduced here.

DE&I Initiatives at the JPO

I. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Team

In August 2023, the JPO Design-Driven Management Project established a D&I Team (Renamed “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team” in September 2024) to serve as a cross-organizational taskforce comprised primarily of young female personnel. The team is working to turn the JPO into an organization that offers both job satisfaction and an enabling work environment for all members, with a commitment to pursuing diversity and inclusivity.

In 2023, the Team interviewed JPO personnel and other IP professionals in an effort to encourage the development of proactive career visions among JPO officers by compiling a collection of messages aimed at developing positive career visions.

Photo - JPO employee interview
JPO employee interview

Photo - The members of the D&I team
The members of the D&I team

II. Research Studies on Gender and Diversity

The matter of diverse human resources is of great importance in the promotion of innovation. Ensuring the inclusiveness of diverse people is an important part of expanding and vitalizing our intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.

The JPO aims to find a way to strengthen the IP ecosystem through the study of gender and diversity in innovative societies.

<Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the IP Ecosystem>

The purposes of this research study are (i) to summarize the current status and issues of female human resources in the IP ecosystem, and (ii) to examine how to improve the environment to promote female empowerment and promote diversity and inclusion within the IP ecosystem. The report summary is available at the following link:

Cooperation with Organizations in Japan

In line with the accelerating global trends that are propelling diversity and inclusion, it is of great importance to the Intellectual Property community that stakeholders cooperate to establish collaborative networks and enhance environments that foster diversity and inclusivity.

In July 2024, in the hope of strengthening collaboration with IP-related organizations in Japan, the JPO Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team had the first trilateral insight-sharing session on diversity and inclusion with the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE & I Society Working Group and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) DE & I Promotion Committee. During the session, participants shared information on their initiatives that promote lively and fulfilling working environments for people in the IP field, as well as on their recent surveys to capture issues on DE & I in Japan. Having had small group discussions, we reconfirmed the significance of active information dissemination through this trilateral cooperation, to accelerate innovation via advancing diversity and inclusion.

Photo - The first trilateral insight-sharing session on diversity and inclusion
The first trilateral insight-sharing session on diversity and inclusion

Photo - Small group discussions
Small group discussions

Cooperation with global IP offices and organizations

I. Support via FIT/Japan IP Global:
Cooperation with WIPO

The government of Japan supports people with diverse backgrounds and values from local communities and economies in developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) via its voluntary fund to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is known as the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global). Such support helps to deepen understanding of IP systems and the effective utilization of IP, which in turn leads toward the further development of local communities and economies.

Support for Women Entrepreneurs

Photo - Participants in the Agribusiness Conference
Participants in the Agribusiness Conference

Support for Youth Entrepreneurs

II. Joint message for International Women’s Day

The JPO officially supports the joint message for International Women’s Day among over 70 IP offices and organizations. We will continue our commitment to the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion among innovation eco-systems under the 2024 international theme of “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.”

(Joint message in the past)

III. Participation in Global Mentoring Pilot

The JPO is one of the 15 offices which are participating in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) initiative titled “Global Mentoring Pilot”. Through mentoring activities with members from global IP offices and organizations, we commit to building a new global network and further promoting the DEIA movement among innovation eco-systems.

IV. Women in IP Symposium

The Women in IP Symposium was held at the USPTO from March 6 - 8, 2024. The JPO, together with global IP offices and organizations around the world, participated in fruitful discussions to promote the further advancement of women’s empowerment. The participants actively discussed a wide range of topics related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), including support for women entrepreneurs and the importance of data utilization to reduce the gender gap.

Photograph: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Photograph: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

(Women in IP Symposia in the past)

DE&I-related Movements

April 2024

The 2024 theme for World Intellectual Property Day (World IP Day, April 26) is "IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity." Gender equality and women’s empowerment comprise one of the SDGs, but are also significant in all development fields. The JPO has been promoting activities that contribute toward the achievement of the SDGs, including the promotion of DE&I.

December, 2023

The JPO hosted the G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation on December 15th, 2023. During the meeting, the G7 heads held an intense discussion about Diversity and Inclusion within the IP eco-system, and the importance of outreach activities for enhancing this movement.

April, 2023

On World Intellectual Property Day (World IP Day) in April 2023, public awareness-raising activities were held in many parts of the world based on the 2023 theme of "Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity".

April, 2022

The JPO highlighted its initiatives and contents to support youth for celebrating World IP Day 2022 under the theme "IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future".

Links to relevant information

I. External Links

II. The JPO Website

[Last updated 24 September 2024]

Contact Us

International Affairs Section (Global Challenges)
International Policy Division
E-mail:PA0800@jpo.go.jp